piness. The young man of thoughtlessness, gayety, and fashion, may shine for a little moment; and, during that moment, he may be the admiration, and perhaps envy, of persons as vain and thoughtless as himself. But he soon passes the season of gayety and mirth-and what is he then? A worthless, neglected cypher in society. His present course of life has no reference to the scenes and duties of riper years. His youth is entirely disconnected from his manhood. It is a portion of his existence which he throws away; and perhaps worse than throws away, because he contracts habits which unfit him for sober life, and cleave to him as an enfeebling, disgusting disease, all his days.

On the other hand, the young man who seriously considers the nature and design of his being; who shuns the society and flees the amusements of the thoughtless and vicious; who devotes his vacant hours to the improvement

of his mind and heart, and aims at the aquisition of those habits and virtues which may qualify him for the duties of life, such a young man cannot fail to rise in respectability, in influence and honor. There is no waste in his existence; no contraction of bad habits to obscure the meridian, or darken the decline of life. The course upon which he enters, like the path of the just, shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. This motive you cannot duly consider without feeling its constraining influence. You are all in the

pursuit of happiness; you all desire the esteem and respect of your fellow men. Here is the way and the only way to attain it. An enlightened mind, a virtuous character, a useful life,-these are the dignity and glory of man. They make him lovely in the sight of angels and God, and secure to him present peace and everlasting happi

ness.

DANGERS OF YOUNG MEN.

EVERY period of life has its peculiar temptations and dangers. But were I to specify the period, which, of all others, is attended with the greatest peril and most needs to be watched and guarded, I would fix upon that which elapses from fourteen to twenty-five years of age. This pre-eminently is the forming, fixing period, the spring season of disposition and habit; and it is during this season, more than any other, that the character assumes its permanent shape and color, and the young man is wont to take his course for time and eternity.

But, not to confine my remarks to this particular age, it will not be doubted that the time during which we usually denominate one a young man is the most important and perilous period

of his whole existence. Then the passions, budding and hastening to ripeness, become impatient of restraint, and eager for gratification. Then the imagination, unchecked by experience, paints the world in false and fascinating colors, and teaches the young bosom to sigh after its forbidden pleasures. Then springs up in the mind the restless desire of independence and selfcontrol; a disposition to throw off the restraints of parental council and authority, and to think and act for itself. Then the social impulse is felt, and the young man looks around for companions and friends; then the calling for life is chosen, the principles of action adopted, habits acquired, and those connections in business and society formed, which usually decide the character, and fix the condition, both for this and the future world.

The path to respectability, to usefulness and happiness, is open before you; so also is the path to infamy and

wretchedness. And now the choice is to be made; you are now to enter upon that path which in all probability you will pursue through life, and which will terminate in heaven or hell. Such are the dangers that encompass you, and so little are persons, at your age, aware of them, that there is great reason to fear that you will mistake the road to happiness, and wander into one of the ten thousand ways that lead to ruin.

Young men are, in general, but little aware of the danger which attends the beginnings of evil. They readily perceive the degrading and destructive tendency of the grosser vices; but they are slow to believe, that there are certain dispositions and habits which inevitably lead to those vices and their consequent degradation and ruin. Hence, while they shun the more open and flagrant offences, they are not afraid to venture upon what are deemed little sins,-upon slight deviations from duty,-occasional indulgence of the ap